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AGRICULTURE

Sandra U. Bishop

HB 4153: Relating to farm stores. This bill would allow large stores in permanent structures on Exclusive Farm Use (EFU) zoned land and would allow for major expansion of agri-tourism. Two public hearings were held. A Work Session was held 2/17 in House Committee on Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water. The bill was moved out of committee (8-3) with a Do Pass with -3 amendments and referred to Ways and Means Committee. The – 3 amendments do not adequately address concerns brought up in League testimony. The League continues to oppose the bill. On Feb. 27, the Ways and Means Capital Construction Subcommittee held a Work Session and moved the bill to the Full Committee where we expect it to be considered on March 2. LFO Recommendation Staff Measure Summary  Please see the League’s Action Alert. 

HB 4130: Relating to farm use. As introduced this measure would clarify the meaning of preparing farm products and by-products. Public hearing Feb. 2.  Surprise Work Session Mar. 2. Will look for possible amendments to be posted since the “relating to” clause is very broad! 

BUDGETS/REVENUE

Peggy Lynch

See the Revenue section of this Legislative Report for in depth information.  We encourage you to read ALL sections.  

CLIMATE

Claudia Keith and Team

See the Climate Emergency section of this Legislative Report.  There are overlaps with this Natural Resources Report. We encourage you to read both sections.

COASTAL ISSUES

Christine Moffitt

SB 1525 would establish the Blue Economy Task Force to study and report on economic development plans or strategies for the “blue” (coastal) economy and opportunities for the state to nurture sustainable blue economy businesses while preserving and protecting Oregon’s coastal ecosystems. It would authorize the Oregon Ocean Science Trust (OOST) to create a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) entity to advance the trust’s mission. The League has been a continual supporter of the OOST. Public hearing set for Feb. 4.  -3 amendment  Work Session Feb. 16. Heard in Ways and Means Capital Construction Subcommittee on Feb. 27 where it passed to Full Ways and Means.  We expect it to be on March 2^nd Full Committee agenda. 

HB 4097 would simply authorize creation of the tax-exempt entity.  It has passed both chambers and is awaiting the Governor’s signature. 

SB 5701: Modifies previously approved lottery bonding provisions. (Includes monies for the Port of Coos Bay) Bond Authority. The bill was described as simply a correction/allocation issue.  League members will follow up. Public Hearing Feb. 13 where the issue wasn’t raised. 

News Release: Draft Offshore Wind Energy Roadmap Available. The public may comment from February 17 – April 3, 2026. Public meetings are also scheduled for our south coast communities starting Feb. 25^th. The League provided Comments on HB 4080 in 2024. Note that the schedule and meeting locations may have changed. website.   

Public Access Rulemaking has begun to clarify how local governments will address protection of public access to Oregon beaches. The next meeting is May 13. 

Undersea Infrastructure and Easements in Oregon’s Territorial Sea Rulemaking.  The next meeting is March 11.  

DEPT. OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY (DEQ)

HB 4102: Modifies the authority of the Department of Environmental Quality to enter into agreements with regulated entities to expedite or enhance a regulatory process. It would allow DEQ to hire third-party contractors to expedite environmental permitting, as a response to DEQ’s sizable permitting backlog. Tech organizations and other advocates said the bill would speed up permitting for large projects and give businesses the certainty they need to grow jobs in Oregon. LWVOR opposed the bill in written testimony, expressing great concern about the use of outside contractors to perform important permitting work, especially if those contractors are paid by the regulated businesses. Bill passed the House. 

We appreciated Rep. Gamba’s statement on the House floor regarding …”the potential influence on a permitting process without further sideboards.” The bill was assigned to Senate Energy and Environment with a Public Hearing Feb. 16. An amendment has been posted that may address our concerns but goes well beyond our request as others also opposed the bill and the amendment may well also address their concerns as well.  Senate E&E heard testimony on the proposed amendment, which essentially would replace the House-passed bill in an effort to ward off environmental opposition and win support from labor. Much of the discussion was technical, centering on whether the bill's new language duplicates that of DEQ's existing contractual rules. Of interest, an Intel representative stated on the record that Oregon does “underfund our permitting agencies.” Work Session Feb. 25. Passed the committee (3/1/1) without amendments. On to the Senate floor. 

FORESTRY (ODF)

Josie Koehne

The Board of Forestry is meeting March 4.  News Release.  Kacey KC, the new Oregon State Forester and Director of the Oregon Department of Forestry, starts work March 1. 

The following is a list of bills we are watching:

HB 4004:  Provides that additional taxes otherwise imposed upon disqualification of land from certain forestland special assessment programs may not be collected if the disqualification is due to the suspension of reforestation requirements as a result of insects or disease. Work Session Feb. 11. The bill passed the House Committee On Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water after adoption of -11 amendments, -13 amendments and -14 amendments and sent to House Revenue where the – A 17 amendment was adopted and was sent to the House floor.  It passed the House and will now have a Public Hearing and Work Session in Senate Finance and Revenue on Mar. 2.   

HB 4105:  Directs the State Forester to determine the available state forestland, establish sustainable harvest levels for harvesting timber on state forestland and manage available state forestland. Allows certain persons to seek a court order if the State Forester fails to establish sustainable harvest levels or manage available state forestland. The bill has a subsequent referral to Ways and Means.  LWVOR opposed a version of this bill in 2025. Public Hearing Feb. 11. LWVOR testimony in opposition. Work Session Feb. 16.  Bill passed the Committee (10/1) and was sent to Ways and Means. Please see the League’s Action Alert. 

SB 1590 A: Prohibits public bodies from assisting the federal government with privatization of certain federally owned lands. Public Hearing Feb. 3. Work Session Feb. 13. Bill was amended and moved to the Senate floor on a 3 to2 party line vote. Bill passed the Senate 17/11/2 on Feb. 19 and was sent to the House Ag et al committee where there was a Public Hearing on Feb. 23 and Work Session Feb. 25. The bill passed the committee and is set to be voted on in the House chamber 

GOVERNANCE

Peggy Lynch

The Natural Resources Team often follows bills related to permitting and rulemaking processes.  Among the bills we are following:

• HB 4073: Modifies provisions relating to administrative law.  As with HB 2692 (2025), this bill creates burdensome and inefficient Administrative Rules Processes. LWVOR 2025 testimony. Public Hearing Feb. 10. The League signed on to a letter in opposition to the bill. 

• HB 4019: Requires certain agencies to base approval or denial of an application for a new permit on the rules and standards that are applicable at the time that the agency determines the application is complete.

• HB 4020: Requires certain agencies to specify the authority justifying the denial of a permit application and provide the applicant a guide on how to contest the denial.  Public hearing 2/03 -1 amendment  was discussed and staff summary provided. LWVOR provided Comments. Work Session Feb. 12. Bill passed the Committee but was sent to Ways and Means due to potential fiscal concerns.  The League appreciates recognition of agency costs to implement the bill.  The -1 amendment was adopted.  Work Session in Ways and Means Natural Resources Subcommittee on Feb. 25.  -A2 amendment LFO Recommendation. On Feb. 27 it passed the Full Ways and Means Committee.  Rep. Reschke wondered about the bill and why there was only ONE testimony on the bill (ours!). Rep. Bowman explained that he had conversations with interested parties and the bill simply provides a roadmap and better information regarding permits.  Good news:  our letter was obviously read!  The bill now goes to the House floor for a vote.     

• HB 4021:  Requires certain agencies to make adoption, amendment or repeal of administrative rules effective only on January 1, April 1, July 1 or October 1. Public Hearing Feb. 10. -2 amendment Work Session Feb. 17.  The League’s concern is related to the need for rules to be adopted and implemented in a timely manner.  If this bill passes, we will monitor that issue.  The bill passed the Committee with the amendment, passed the House floor Feb. 20 and moved to the Senate Rules Committee. Public Hearing Feb. 25.  Work Session Feb. 26.  -A3 amendment was adopted and the bill now goes to the Senate floor for a vote.    

• HB 4084 A: Establishes the Joint Permitting Council. The bill creates a fast-track permitting process for major projects, expands economic “enterprise zones,” and would have invested $40 million in industrial land site readiness to promote manufacturing.  The Governor’s testimony on the bill at the Feb. 4^th Public Hearing. A -1 amendment was adopted.  The bill passed the House Committee On Economic Development, Small Business, and Trade.  Staff Measure Summary. The bill moved to House Revenue.  Public Hearing Feb. 16. Both Wilsonville and Eugene provided testimony in support of such an allocation in the Feb. 13 hearing on SB 5702.   Work Session Feb. 19.  -A 14 amendment was adopted and the bill moved to Ways and Means. A Work Session was scheduled on Feb. 26, but the bill was pulled due to these conversations around data centers and the tax breaks given. Staff Measure Summary provided that would substitute the $40 million with a lesser amount.  LFO Recommendation.  We await learning when the bill will go to the Capital Construction Subcommittee, perhaps as soon as Monday, Mar. 2.  The League has been involved in conversations around these important policy and tax issues.  

Governor Kotek Data Center Advisory Committee has been convened. The Oregonian provides insights into the effects of tax breaks on data centers in HB 4084: Oregon data center operators will save nearly a half-billion dollars in local property taxes this year through three different incentive programs. Kotek’s legislation, House Bill 4084, would expand the fastest growing of those three programs. 

SB 1586: Modifies the tax credit allowed for semiconductor research. Creates and amends certain programs offering tax breaks related to advanced manufacturing, enterprise zones and regionally significant industrial sites. Directs certain state agencies to establish deadlines within which the agency intends to process applications for permits and make the deadlines available to the public. Directs certain state agencies to publish a catalog of permits issued by the agency within 60 days after the effective date of the Act. This Oregonlive article provides a great review of the bill.  The League OPPOSES. Public Hearing Feb. 16. -4 amendment was posted on Feb. 16.  Public Hearing Feb. 18. Another Public Hearing Feb. 23.   See the meeting materials posted in the Analysis section of the bill’s Overview for more information.  We continue to expect further amendments. -7 amendment was posted Saturday morning (9:27a) from Sen. Sollman.  It seems to be a replacement of the bill.  LWVOR provided testimony opposing the amendment on Feb. 23. Currently the bill remains in Senate Finance and Revenue with no Work Session scheduled. Please see the League’s Action Alert. 

LAND USE & HOUSING

Peggy Lynch

Bills we are watching: 

• HB 4035: Expands eligibility for cities and Metro to amend their urban growth boundaries under a Temporary program. Authorizes the Land Conservation and Development Commission to issue grants to implement the commission’s duties. Public Hearing Feb. 5. Work Session Feb. 12. -3 amendment was adopted and the bill passed the committee to the House floor where it passed on Feb. 18 and is headed to the Senate Housing and Development. Public Hearing and Work Session Feb. 24 where the -A 4 amendment was adopted.  The bill passed and now goes to the Senate floor. 

• HB 4082: Adds to a temporary UGB addition program an option for each city or Metro to also add to its urban growth boundary a site for manufactured dwelling parks, or for housing for older persons, that is affordable for households with incomes not more than 120 percent of area median income. Public Hearing Feb. 3. Work Session Feb.  10 where -2 amendment  was adopted.  This Oregonlive article explains the conversation around this bill.  Feb. 17:  Bill passed the House.  Headed to the Senate Housing and Development where there was a Public Hearing Feb. 24. Work Session Feb. 26 where the - A 4 was adopted and the bill now moves to the Senate floor.

• SB 1586: Modifies the tax credit allowed for semiconductor research. Creates and amends certain programs offering tax breaks related to advanced manufacturing, enterprise zones and regionally significant industrial sites. Adds rural reserves in Washington County to Metro to be used for high technology and advanced manufacturing purposes. See more on this omnibus bill in the Revenue Legislative Report. The League has major concerns about sections of this bill. Oregonlive article provides a great review of the bill.  The League submitted strong testimony in opposition.  Public Hearing Feb. 16. -4 amendment was posted on Feb. 16. Public Hearing Feb. 18. Another Public Hearing Feb. 23.  See the meeting materials posted in the Analysis section of the bill’s Overview for more information and look for possible additional amendments.  -7 amendment was posted Saturday morning (9:27a) from Sen. Sollman.  It seems to be a replacement of the bill. LWVOR provided testimony opposing the amendment on Feb. 23. Currently the bill remains in Senate Finance and Revenue with no Work Session scheduled. Please see the League’s Action Alert. 

• HB 4108: Requires a city to annex noncontiguous land upon receipt of a petition from all owners of the land that satisfies four eligibility criteria. Public Hearing held Feb. 3. Work Session Feb. 12.  The League supports the concept of this bill as good planning with the -1 amendment. A -2 amendment was adopted limiting this policy as a “pilot project” for the City of Eugene.  We are disappointed that the bill was narrowed, but glad to see some movement on this important land use issue. The bill passed the House on Feb. 18 and headed to the Senate Housing and Development for a Public Hearing and Work Session on Feb. 26 where a -A 4 amendment was adopted and the bill now goes to the Senate floor for a vote. 

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The 2025-27 Policy Agenda 2025-27 Policy Agenda was approved by LCDC on Oct. 24.  There will be seven rulemakings on Housing alone, including: Housing Rulemaking for HB 2138 and HB 2258 (2025) and  Rulemaking to clarify and allow housing and other needed development outside of wetlands. The rulemaking would create an optional, alternative compliance pathway for wetlands resources when a city is preparing bill annex lands from the urban growth boundary (UGB) to accommodate needed housing and economic development.  LCDC had a presentation on Feb. 27^th (DSL presentation on wetlands at LCDC on YouTube Feb. 27 at the 3-4:15p Meeting time.) See their Rulemaking page for more info on all the rules work being done by this agency.  

See also the Housing Report in the Social Policy section of this Legislative Report.

OREGON DEPT. OF FISH AND WILDLIFE (ODFW)

Melanie Moon

HB 4134  is a bipartisan bill that would increase the state tax from 1.5% to 2.75% for transient visitors to Oregon including camping, hotels and vacation rentals. The money would be used for wildlife habitat and a myriad of other programs.  LWVOR signed on to a letter in support. High Country News provides an article on this bill. Public Hearing Feb. 4. The Oregon Capital Chronicle also covered this bill.  Work Session Feb. 16 in House Revenue. -1 amendment adopted. Feb. 24:  House passed the bill (36/22/2). On to the Senate Finance and Revenue Committee with a Public Hearing Feb. 26 and another Public Hearing & Work Session Feb. 27 where it passed the committee 3/0/2.  Then we hope it passes to the Senate floor where it needs 20 votes to pass. Please see the League’s Action Alert. 

RECYCLING

HB 4144 A: Requires producers of batteries or battery-containing products to join a battery producer responsibility organization and implement a battery producer responsibility program for the collection and recycling of batteries has a Work Session in Ways and Means Natural Resources Subcommittee Feb. 23.  Passed Full Ways and Means Feb. 25.  On to the House where it passed (42/0/17/1). To the Senate chamber.  

REGIONAL SOLUTIONS

The Regional Solutions Program: Within each of the 11 Regions, which are tied to Oregon’s federally designated Economic Development Districts, a Governor-appointed Advisory Committee sets Regional Priorities and a cross-functional Team of state agency staff works together to move projects forward. To receive their reports, use this signup page.  The public is welcome to attend virtually or in person.  Go to the program website and to the region to find the agendas and meeting materials posted a few days before the meetings.  Public Comment is usually scheduled.   Upcoming Regional Solutions Advisory Committee (RSAC)

Meetings: 

Regional Solutions

Greater Eastern (Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Malheur, Morrow, Umatilla, and Wheeler Counties) March 10th from 2:00-4:00pm

Mid-Valley (Marion, Polk, and Yamhill Counties) March 12th from 1:30-3:30pm

Northeast (Baker, Union, and Wallowa Counties) March 13th from 2:00-4:00pm

South Central (Klamath and Lake Counties) March 17th from 10:00am-12:00pm

Southern (Jackson and Josephine Counties) March 25th from 12:00-2:00pm

South Valley/Mid-Coast (Benton, Lane, Lincoln, and Linn Counties) March 26th from 1:00-3:00pm

TRANSPORTATION (ODOT)

The Oregon Capital Chronicle provides some daylight on the ODOT budget discussions for 2026:  Kotek told reporters Tuesday that lawmakers had reached a compromise on which transportation programs to cut, but offered few specifics on the depth of those changes. The details of such a compromise have not yet been made publicly available, allowing lawmakers to avoid any pushback from transportation workers or union leaders who hold significant political sway in Salem. 

But the governor maintained that the plan focuses on savings from job vacancies, avoiding  layoffs, and taking funding from infrastructure improvement projects that have yet to begin.

“Tough choices were made to get to our compromise,” she said. “And no one loves the proposal, but it will make sure that the agency can function through the end of the biennium and past the end of the biennium to provide basic services: Plowing roads, operating DMVs, things like that.”

See last week’s report on the variety of funding pots that are being considered.  The League will be sad to see loss of Safe Routes to School funding, and we hope for a solution that considers the need for transit statewide. We are also concerned with the loss of trained ODOT staff.  It will be important for legislative leaders to begin work on a long term funding solution for 2027. 

Bills we are watching:

• SB 1599: Moves the election date for the parts of chapter 1, Oregon Laws 2025 (special session), referred to the people by Referendum Petition 2026-302, to the primary election held on May 19, 2026. Bill was assigned to the new Joint Special Committee On Referendum Petition 2026-302. Public Hearing Feb. 9. Work Session Feb. 12. -2 amendment adopted and bill passed the committee on a party line vote.  Headed to the Senate floor where it passed Feb. 23 (17/13). It is now tentatively scheduled for the House chamber vote on Mar. 2.

• HB 4126: Get the Data for a Better Road User Charge (RUC): Require ODOT to report the total biennial cost of maintenance and preservation for the state’s road system, and to report the total mileage driven. This data could later be used to calculate the RUC. Public Hearing and Work Session set for Feb. 16.   -2 amendment was adopted and the Committee moved the bill to Ways and Means. Fiscal Impact Statement 

• HB 4008: Transit Funding Task Force To determine the level of funding needed to maintain adequate transit service statewide and explore funding mechanisms to achieve that funding. (House Transportation Committee) The League supports. Public Hearing and Work Session Feb. 16 -5 amendment adopted 5/2 and bill was sent to Ways and Means.  Fiscal Impact Statement:  if the work required by this task force, or if the cumulative enactment of other legislation with interim committees and task forces exceeds Legislative Fiscal Office expenditure levels beyond those assumed in the 2025-27 budget, additional General Fund resources may be required.

From ODOT press release: Learn more about our capital improvement plan for state and federally funded projects by visiting the draft 2027-2030 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program, also known as the STIP, online open house. The online open house will be available through March 20. We may use your comments to make adjustments as we begin designing projects in the STIP. All comments will be included in the public comment record. This record will go to the Oregon Transportation Commission before they approve the final STIP in June.

WATER

Peggy Lynch

Bill of concern: HB 4049: Directs the Water Resources Commission to encourage and approve voluntary agreements between ground water users in the Greater Harney Valley Groundwater Area of Concern to achieve reasonably stable ground water levels. -3 amendments posted.  Public Hearing Feb. 4. Work Session Feb. 16. The League understands that Rep. Owens and the Governor’s Office are in negotiations.  It is unclear if this bill is really needed to address the representative’s concerns.  The -3 amendments were adopted and the bill was moved to Ways and Means. 

League members may want to check the U. S. Drought Monitor, a map that is updated every Thursday. Governor Kotek has declared a drought in eight counties (map).  Here is a more complete website about drought in Oregon. 

We all need to pay attention to the potential for harmful algal blooms (HABs). “When in doubt, stay out.”  Visit the Harmful Algae Bloom website or call the Oregon Public Health Division toll-free information line at 877-290-6767 to learn if an advisory has been issued or lifted for a specific water body. Information on current advisories can be found on the OHA’s cyanobacteria bloom webpage at healthoregon.org/hab. The OHA has an online photo gallery to help community members identify signs of potentially harmful blooms. 

WEATHER

The best guess of the various forecasters is that sometime between June and September the world will enter an El Niño cycle. When that happens, prepare for bedlam. Each El Niño event in recent decades has gotten steadily worse, because each one drives the temperature to a new record.

WETLANDS

Peggy Lynch

The Dept of State Lands and Dept. of Land Conservation and Development attended the Feb. 27^th Land Conservation and Development Commission meeting where they did presentations on wetlands. You can watch on YouTube Feb. 27 at the 3-4:15p meeting time. Materials  Presentation 1  Presentation 2​​​ 

The next meeting of the Wetlands Rulemaking RAC, originally planned for February 23, 2026) will be postponed until later in the spring. Please stay tuned for a new meeting date after the close of the 2026 legislative session.  DLCD’s rulemaking webpage.

WILDFIRE

Carolyn Mayers

It’s been a fairly uneventful week in wildfire legislation. Here is what’s happening:

• SB 1540 A which endeavors to align insurance company wildfire risk assessment with homeowner and community level mitigation efforts in an attempt to help address the rising cost of homeowners insurance, is scheduled for a Public Hearing before the Senate Rules Committee Monday, March 2. There is growing pessimism around this bill’s chances.

• SB 1541 remains in Ways and Means. This is Senator Golden’s Climate Superfund bill would provide, among other things, funding toward wildfire mitigation and disaster recovery. (See Also Climate Emergency Legislative Report)

• SB 1551 A would invalidate deed restrictions and planned community governing documents prohibiting the removal of non-fire-hardened building materials or installation of fire-hardened building materials on residential properties. This bill had a Public Hearing and Work Session before the House Committee on Housing and Homelessness on February 26, and was sent to the floor with a do-pass recommendation and passed. It is currently awaiting a vote on the House floor.

• HJM 201, which urges Congress to pass legislation to permanently extend federal tax cuts for wildfire victims, has passed the House and the Senate.

In other news, there was a meeting of the Local Officials Advisory Committee (LOAC) on February 24. One item of interest was a Lane County petition for wildfire sheltering timeframe revisions. After the Labor Day fires in 2020, emergency measures were passed to allow for 5 years of temporary sheltering in different locations, such as campgrounds, for people who lost their homes to wildfire. At that time, it was thought 5 years would be an adequate amount of time. As it turns out, there are still many people who have not yet been able to rebuild. This petition requests the time frame be extended another 5 years, to give people the opportunity to remain where they are sheltering until such time as their homes are rebuilt. The request will go to the Land Conservation and Development Commission at their next meeting. Meeting material, which have all the details, may be found on this page. 

Finally, as reported in this article from KPTV, loss of funding may result in 30 early wildfire detection cameras being shut down across the State. This is technology that has proven to be instrumental in authorities being able to respond quickly to wildfires, keeping them contained, and the loss of the the use of them would be potentially catastrophic in the face of increasing wildfire risk in Oregon. OPB also covered this story:  Almost half of the University of Oregon’s network of cameras to monitor wildfires is at risk of being discontinued, according to an administrator. The Oregon Hazards Lab’s network of cameras operates 24-7 and covers some of the most remote, rugged, and inaccessible areas of the state.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: What is your passion related to Natural Resources? You can help. Volunteers are needed.  We particularly need help tracking legislation concerning 

•Air Quality (Dept. of Environmental Quality)

•Columbia River Gorge Commission

•Hanford Cleanup

•Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife

•Parks and Recreation Dept.

•Recycling/Materials Management (Dept. of Environmental Quality)

•Toxic Control

Interested in reading additional reports? Please see our Climate Emergency, Revenue, Governance, and Social Policy report sections.